Just a Tease: New McLaren Dealership Previews MP4-12C, U.S. Spec-Sheet Shown

Set smack in the middle of Beverly Hills on Wilshire Boulevard is McLaren Automotive's newest -- and what will likely become its largest -- North American dealership, the Auto Gallery. The 15,000-sq-ft location joins nine other national dealers who, according to McLaren executives, were largely handpicked for not only their ideal markets and large existing customer bases, but for their commitment and excitement to growing the U.K.-based brand.

Admittedly, "those who know cars, know McLaren," said Auto Gallery co-owner Frank Schwartz. So educating such types isn't the feat. Sufficiently showing McLaren's racing and technological successes -- as well as telling the story of the legendary F1 road machine (chassis No. 28 shown) -- to new buyers through seductive and modern marketing will be key to expansion in the competitive (and relatively slow-selling) exotic sports car market.

Yet, even without a completed showroom or any full-page color ads, Schwartz says he's already garnered "overwhelming response" from a few hundred potential clients willing to shell out between $225,000 and $275,000 for a car.

American dealers are estimated to receive 360 of the planned 1000 first year units. So the interested well-heeled will likely have to wait a bit for one to call their own. By the third year of production, sellers will split 700 of 4000 cars.

Of course, the MP4-12C's popularity isn't limited to the States. In its native England, McLaren has gathered more than 2700 serious expressions of interest. The latest model from Woking is, indeed, a star.

However, at our in-the-flesh meeting with the car and McLaren personnel, we did collect a few new nuggets of information regarding the car, which is specifically trained and designed to defeat the Ferrari 458 Italia. We also included the official North American spec sheet.

Here's the good stuff:

- Each MP4 is hand-built and hand-painted to ensure the utmost quality.

- It takes 30 days to assemble a car on the brand's staged assembly line. One stage's work takes one day.

- The carbon fiber MonoCell (formed from one piece) tub and aluminum chassis are said to be ultra-stiff and extremely safe. Engineers say that during 35 mph offset and oblique crash tests, the windshield didn't even crack.

- As part of its durability testing regime, the MP4's tub/chassis was set in the desert for 4 weeks. It was also set in the ocean for the same duration.

- Dihedral doors don't just look cool; they're more efficient. The doors are comprised of fewer parts, thus contributing less mass, and can be better positioned for optimal weight distribution.

- A lightweight stainless steel exhaust comes standard, but a 6.6-pound-lighter Inconel system can be optioned. Inconel is the same highly heat-resistant alloy used on F1 racecar exhausts. It forms the McLaren F1 roadcar's exhaust as well.

- Carbon ceramic brakes are an option. McLaren insists they are ideal for those owners looking to track their car.